Indiana Football's 2025 Non-Conference Opponents: A Financial Breakdown
Indiana football is slated to pay a total of $3.075 million for its non-conference games in 2025. This includes payments to Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State for their respective matchups.
The Cost of Competition
The cheapest of these games will be against in-state FCS opponent Indiana State, costing the Hoosiers $475,000. This game is scheduled for Friday night. IU will also face Indiana State in 2027 and 2030.
The Sycamores have a historical record of 0-20 against current Big Ten teams and haven't defeated a current Power Four opponent since 1987. Their record against the Hoosiers is 0-7.
Indiana's nonconference scheduling strategy became a topic of national discussion after canceling a home-and-home series against Virginia. They won't face another Power Four nonconference opponent until 2030 against Notre Dame.
"We want our nonconference schedule to put us in the best position for success at the end of the season," Scott Dolson told The Herald-Times in June. "What we really want to do is make sure we are competitive in the back half of the season and create meaningful games in the Big Ten because we are really playing for postseason opportunities."
As it stands, Indiana is the only Big Ten team without a nonconference game against a Power Four opponent through 2029.
Future Non-Conference Schedules and Payouts
The Hoosiers may adjust their strategy based on ongoing discussions about the future of the College Football Playoff. They are currently debating different models within the Power Four conferences which would affect the Big Ten.
| Year | Opponent | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Old Dominion | $1.3 million |
| 2025 | Kennesaw State | $1.3 million |
| 2025 | Indiana State | $475,000 |
| 2026 | Colorado State | $1.3 million |
| 2026 | Howard | $525,000 |
| 2026 | Western Kentucky | $1.1 million |
| 2027 | Kennesaw State | $1.3 million |
| 2027 | Indiana State | $500,000 |
| 2027 | UMass | $1.25 million |
| 2028 | Austin Peay | $400,000 |
| 2028 | Eastern Michigan | $1.3 million |
| 2028 | Miami Ohio | $1.3 million |
| 2029 | Ball State | $1.3 million |
| 2029 | Eastern Illinois | $550,000 |
| 2029 | Western Kentucky | $550,000 |
| 2030 | Notre Dame | N/A |
| 2030 | Indiana State | $525,000 |
| 2030 | Delaware | $1.3 million |
| 2031 | Notre Dame | N/A |
